Vision of Love

I understand the concept of a vision board but haven't been capable of building one I could really connect to. *This is going to be some hippie-dippy shit, so if you're eyes are already rolling I implore you to hit close on your web browser and continue on with your day.* The items on your board are supposed to invoke inspiration for things you are currently doing or things you want to do in the future. The idea is that if you see what you want, truly focus on what you want, you can manifest it into being. The power of attraction. Bringing positive things to you, instead of waiting for them to just happen.

Thursday I checked Facebook while drinking my morning iced coffee and saw a post by a friend of a friend. She posted an article she had just written for DoYouYoga about how to attract positive energy with vision boards. Something I did not see as a coincidence (everything happens for a reason, whether you choose to believe it or not). About two months prior to her article, the friend we share had given me some instruction on how to build my own vision board and I did, but it didn't feel right. It felt like what I should want my board to contain. I had no real connection to it.

Nicole's article came at the right time (again, everything happens for a reason). As I was reading, it was as if someone just switched on the light. The bulb above my head was illuminated. Yes I'm being overly dramatic, because it literally seemed to happen in seconds. I knew exactly what my vision board should look like and I went into work knowing what I would print out and what I would pin to the board when I got home that night.

I've stopped asking why and just accepted that this stuff just happens when it's supposed to because that's the plan. No over analyzing. No wondering. No wishing. Just accepting that little nuggets of wisdom and inspiration come when they are supposed to. When the time is right and you are in the right place to use the wisdom and inspiration to the best of its uses...

Enjoy my vision board below and please click the link to Nicole's article to gain your own inspiration!
Peace love and doing what makes you over-the-moon happy,
{PL}

Side note: Yes, that is a picture of Hilary Clinton, I don't really give a shit about your political preference, this is my vision board and she belongs on it. So suck it...

Deep Blue Day

Toms

Oh, Inverted World; How Broken Bells Turned Me Back Into a Shins Fan

It all started with the movie Garden State. A movie that everyone loved and I have no idea why. I mean, it's a great movie, but it has to be one of the most depressing movies I have ever seen in my entire life. I file this movie in the 'I've seen it once, so I don't have to see it again' category, because on a whole, I like for my movie-going experiences to be pleasant. I do not like to cry or be depressed. Fuck. Who does?! But that is where my loathing of The Shins started. 

When Natalie Portman and Zach Braff are in the doctor's office waiting room and she tells him he has to hear this one song, "New Slang," it will change his life. Disagree. That is by far the WORST song on that album and it would not (did not) change my life. The fact that this song I loathe was used in this movie that makes me want to cry just turned me to off. I had that album three years before Braff put that God-forsaken song in his movie. And the movie only intensified my distaste for not only the song, but James Mercer and the entire album. Like a snowball effect my hatred kept building every time I'd watch the movie. I was living in New Jersey at the time, blocks from where Braff grew up, rueing (is that a word?) the day he was born. A year later I moved out of NJ and never listened to the album or watched the movie again.

Fast forward to Spring of 2010. I was working for a mastering studio in Chelsea and one of the engineers told me about this album he just mastered. He thought I would like it because "it has the guy from The Shins on it." Clearly I had never expressed my disdain for The Shins in his presence. I thought to myself why the fuck would I listen to an album that contains a member of a band I absolutely loathe? Well, the answer is I wouldn't. And I didn't. For about 3 months after the album came out. One day I was going through my CDs and came across Broken Bells' self-titled album and thought I'd try it, in the privacy of my own home, where no one would know if I secretly liked it. The first track, "The High Road," was it. It was all I needed to basically fall head over heels in love with James Mercer, again. Fuck. What have I done?! His voice used to bother me so much, it would make me sick. Now, I'm staring googly-eyed at my speakers wishing he was singing in front of me. It happened. Hell hath frozen over. I didn't immediately run back to The Shins. Matter of fact, I held my ground two years through 2012 and the release of Port of Morrow. And then I heard the single in a commercial or a movie or something. "Simple Song" ruined my hatred. I listened to that song over and over and over. Eventually listening to the entire album and liked it. Sigh. No, loved it. The wall came down and I became a fan of The Shins. Again.

How did this happen? His voice is the same. But something was so different about Broken Bells that it allowed me to forget about how much I hated him and The Shins (and Garden State). I still don't like "New Slang," and I don't think I ever will, but I've decided to put the disgust I have for that song aside and see the band for everything else they have contributed to the world.

Meet me again, in the rain

In the movie of my life, the most perfect song to walk around NYC in the rain to is "Oceans" from the new Coldplay album Ghost Stories. They have quite literally perfected the art of the ballad and I'm not mad. There are some songs that require the perfect mood to really resonate and others that just click any time. I enjoyed this song from the start, however walking down 9th Ave in the rain today, "Oceans" just made all the sense in the world. AND 'rain' is even in the song. So there's that...

Anyway. Mercury Retrograde seems to be fucking my shit up. I've been going backwards, which makes all the sense in the world if you are familiar with MR. Past behaviors, people from my past, miserable feelings from my past. Past, past, past. But I am aware and trying to make better decisions knowing things are a little messed up. I don't think you can ever completely avoid making mistakes during MR, but you can just be aware of what is happening and react differently. And take comfort in the fact that everyone else's world is being fucked up by MR too! Misery loves company...

I thought I would provide some links for those of you experiencing the symptoms.

Purpose Fairy - 5 Ways to Keep Your Sanity During Mercury Retrograde
Cafe Astrology - Mercury Retrograde in Cancer/Gemeni

Stay safe out there kids!
Peace, love and music,
{PL}

It's all happening...

I've always been a little hippie deep down inside, but recently I've stopped suppressing it. If you're my friend you've probably been on the receiving end of my suggestion of yoga for whatever ails you. Feeling depressed? Do yoga. Sad about the current state of your relationship? Do yoga. Not sure where your career is taking you? Do yoga. I get a lot of eye-rolls, but my response is, try it. If after the first class you don't feel like you have a greater insight into your problem, then I'll shut up and never mention it again. I've also started suggesting meditation. This suggestion gets me even more eye-rolls and a few groans as well. Again, just try it. If it doesn't work, never do it again. But the not trying part is bullshit. It may not solve your problems in one sitting, but I promise, you are more likely to find what you are looking for at the end of a meditation than at the bottom of a bottle. Trust me. I've done the leg work.

Since the unofficial start of summer is next weekend (Memorial Day), I have decided I am going to let my hippie flag fly; the Summer of Love 2014! I am taking on a new mantra {I have enough, I am enough}. I am going to be positive. I am going to smile, a lot. I am going to manifest the shit out of this summer. Good things are coming...it's all happening.

Peace and love,

{PL}

Twenty Years Ago: Weezer - The Blue Album

Weezer - self titled, aka The Blue Album

May 10, 1994

My Name Is Jonas

No One Else

The World Has Turned and Left Me Here

Buddy Holly

Undone – The Sweater Song

Surf Wax America

Say It Ain't So

In the Garage

Holiday

Only in Dreams 

From the first note in "My Name Is Jonas" to the last note of "Only In Dreams" I love this album. Every track. Every chorus. Every everything. I was thinking about it before I started writing this, if I love this album because it reminds me of a certain time in my life and the answer is yes. And no...

Of course I love this album because it reminds me of my youth. Freshman year of High School. In love with the cool, hot senior on the basketball team. Getting picked on by the bitchy senior girls at the table across from me and my friends at lunch. Doc Martens. Tight rolling jeans. Watching the "uncool kids" skateboarding home after school while I walked. My white Esprit tote bag (which I still have). I hear this album and I am instantly transported back to me and all my awkwardness. But I also love this album because the music is fucking amazing. The guitar, though not entirely complicated doesn't have to be. It's purposeful. The voice, hitting those high notes you didn't expect. The lyrics, singing about the every man or kid depending on your perspective. You understood how he felt. Guy or girl. You understood the heartache. He was you, singing about you. It just made sense. And it always will...

I wonder what will be said about this album in another 20 years? I'm pretty sure my opinions won't change, if anything I'll fee closer to it than I do today (which always feels like the case the farther from something you get). And I'm pretty sure the music community as a whole won't change their opinion either. I guess we'll just have to wait and see...

Have a great weekend! Don't forget to call Mom!
Peace, love and Buddy Holly glasses,
{PL}

Crocodile Rock

I haven't done a post strictly about shoes in awhile (shame on me) so I thought this would be the perfect opportunity and rainy day to show off these super cute new shoes I got. (note: of course the sun came out while I was typing this, le sigh)

I pretty much think Crocs are disgusting. Intended for the medical and chef professions and children who are notorious slobs and need a good hosing off every now and then. Well that all changed after one of my FAVORITE Project Runway alums, Mondo Guerra, released a line for the brand.  I felt a little dirty walking into the store, surrounded by plastic shoes and seriously ugly plastic shoes at that..but I took one for the team (and by team I mean my feet).

If you don't know much about Guerra, I've included some pics of his designs below the shoes. As you can see, the shoes are VERY much inline with his design aesthetic. A man that designs in mostly black and white with pops of color?! Is a man after my own heart.

For pricing and store locations check out the Crocs website!

Peace, love and shoes,
{PL}

My happy feet!

Photos care of (1) {PL} Instagram, (2,3,4) Crocs website, (5) BuddyTV (6) MarieClaire (7) Examiner